This was by far the most bizarre interview I have ever done. First of all, I was texted by the employer with no introductory information at 9pm to see if I was available for an interview. Then, the interview itself was a group interview which was not disclosed prior. So there were 8 of us total and the interview process was pretty much like a game show. It felt very unprofessional to say the least, none of us were aware it was a group interview until arriaval. After being asked basic questions, the hiring manager stated that we would be called to set up a time at a later date for the second interview step, which was a hands on interview. So, 5 people were excused and myself and two others were asked to stay to answer "questions about our resumes." BUT surprise, we made it to the next round and proceeded to the 2nd interview portion which was a "brain assessment test." We were asked to perform organizational and memorization tests in order to see our work style. I left the interview feeling uneasy and honestly very stressed.
About 10 minutes after the leaving the office. I received a call from the Dr telling me I was offered a position, and then he gave me the sales pitch regarding how many interviews they had conducted and how fortunate I was to have been given an offer. He made it sound like I would get assisting experience, which was what I was looking for specifically. He also mentioned that after a year of working for them I would be able to become an RDA (but, the fishy part about that is you can get your RDA before a year, pretty much at any point, but if you work for an office as an assistant without an RDA after a year, that is a legal liability on the office. At least that is what I was told by another dentist. So, my assumption is that the office doesn't want to pay you more as long as legally possibly, because without your RDA you aren't a great asset other than being as underpaid assistant and therefore getting a raise would be unlikely).
Additionally, once I spoke to his wife about the job offer she presented me the truth to what positions they were hiring for. After I had clearly stated I would prefer to work in the back with the doctors, she told me that of one position open was as an insurance coordinator and the other one was (get ready for this) office receptionist in the morning, "help" in the back (probably sterilization only, no clinical experience), THEN pick up their kids at 3pm and watch them. I'm sorry but that seems like a business tax write off. Just hire a babysitter... I was at a loss for words. While I was asking for $14 an hour since I know I have no dental experience, there is no way I will watch someones kids for $14 when I have 7 years of childcare experience. They don't offer transportation reimbursement despite their house being 20 minutes away from the office (yes I asked I was just flabbergasted) and again, just hire a babysitter. I don't think its right to pull employees from your dental practice to watch your children when their job title isn't "babysitter).
Overall, my morals did not align with the way I saw this practice handle the interview and even the jobs they had available (just the babysitting one really). Their ethics and morals did not align with my personal values and beliefs. I believe that a dental practice should have a big WHY, regarding what they do how the treat their patients and what they look for in their employees. During the interview I asked what are the values of the practice and their answer was "to give 100%". While I can commend a job well done, I don't think that giving 100% is a value and a WHY strong enough for a well rounded and ethical dental practice. I felt as though, working for this office would constantly feel like a popularity contest, which is not how I was to feel at work. Again, there was unclear expectations and I felt like I was getting sales pitch for a job position that I wasn't interested with in the first place.
AND thats the end, I could go on but I already wrote a mini novel. Hopefully this offers some insight to the job interview experience.
